The worst accidents can be those that happen in the home.  There are so many things we have around our houses that can do harm.  So when it comes time for you to tackle a DIY project, safety should always be your number one concern.  This isn’t just the safety of yourself, but those around you.  You’ll be surprised just how dangerous the simplest jobs can be to the uninformed Do It Yourselfer.

Whenever you are improving your home, you need to make sure you have an up to date first aid kit near by.  It’s a good idea to have one on every floor of your home and in your garage.  Instead of wondering what you should have in a first aid kit, just go to your local drug store and buy one already made up for you.  You need to know that it is so important to have the proper medical supplies in your home if you should get hurt.  Just get a basic first aid kit.  You don’t need to have a huge one with big butterfly closures, but it never hurts to be prepared!

Eye protection is something we often don’t think about.  We don’t use eye protection enough.  I’m not talking about just when we’re using a miter saw to cut our new trim to a perfect edge.  I’m talking about even when we drag a broom across our popcorn textured ceilings to knock off the dust.  It only takes one little piece of dust or debris to wreck your day!  I know, I know….those goggles make you look less than flattering and you scare your toddler when you put them on.  Have you seen Ladiestoolsonline.com’s new pink protective eye wear?  It’s like wearing stylish fashion glasses but offers great protection! It’s definitely like seeing your perfect project completed through rose colored glasses!

Gloves are another safety precaution we often disregard.  Gloves not only keep our hands safe from scratches and splinters, they can help with chemicals.  I actually keep a box of disposable medical gloves in my kitchen.  They are extremely cheap and are very handy.  I use them each time I paint and stain wood.  I also put them on every time I clean my house or scoop the litter box.  Those chemicals that we use to scrub our toilets and disinfect our counters are very toxic.  Plus my hands never smell or feel grimy afterwards.  Latex gloves are great to protect your hands from paint and other chemicals, but what about gloves for everything else?  You can get mechanic’s gloves to help keep your hands safe when you’re working on bigger projects.  For example, use them if you’re going to nail wood together.  You’ll be less likely to get a splinter.  Use them whenever you need to get a good grip on something, like moving furniture around before painting.  You’ll find a ton of different ways these gloves will help you in your home.  Always use garden gloves when you’re working the in the yard.  Dirt easily gets under your fingernails and can be a breeding ground for germs.  Speaking of germs, remember how I keep a box of latex disposable gloves in the kitchen?  I use them every time I handle raw meat and chicken!  Try using them when you’re mincing garlic and onion, you don’t have to stink for days anymore!

It’s so important that you practice safety in the home when doing home improvement projects.  All it takes is one mistake to hurt yourself.  A true DIY Diva is prepared for everything!  Happy home improvements!

What keeps women from becoming DIY Divas?  Many ladies of the home handle everything from sack lunches to laundry; why not install a new ceiling fan this weekend?  Many of us like to let the men enjoy their tool time, but why shouldn’t we have some projects to do too?  Surely if your home is like mine ladies, there are plenty of tasks on the “Honey Do list” to go around!

Yet we all know running the home is a full-time job in itself, and many of us do have other jobs.  By the end of soccer practice and casserole creations, we find ourselves drained.  We’d rather spend our 3 day weekend in front of the television or soaking up the sun.  Time and energy will probably remain the biggest reasons why women turn down the DIY tasks.  We need to channel that negative energy and put it to some good use!  Don’t you know that working on your home will ease stress?

Sure, think about it ladies!  If you’re stressed to the max, head to the garage.  Start sanding away at the old kitchen table you’ve been meaning to refinish!  You’ll feel better and be half way done completing the table! 

Do the kids keep you from finishing all those DIY jobs you’ve been planning since they were born?  Life happens, but there’s no excuse once your kids can entertain themselves, and think of it as an extra set of hands if you need them.  DIY jobs don’t mean do it yourself….all alone.  Grab your daughter and teach her the importance of staining that kitchen table with smooth, even strokes.  You’ll enjoy the bonding time and the finished product will have a nice back story.  You’re making memories!

Another awesome way I use my DIY weekends to my advantage is dinner.  When I’ve got wood putty underneath my fingers and my hands ache from sanding, I know I can always get my favorite Chinese takeout, which takes me off the hook for cooking! 

You’ll realize that many of the jobs you’ve been putting off on because of the whole lazy factor aren’t as time consuming as you thought.  If you check the night before a project to make sure you’ve got all your materials, you can wake up the next morning without the inconvenience of running to the store. If you’re an early riser on your day off, you’ll be done by dinner.  Of course, not all projects are simple one day jobs.  But you’ll be surprised what you can do in one day.  I’ve installed a few major appliances, hung a few pieces of dry wall and did some spackle work, changed out faucets, replaced light fixtures, painted entire rooms and ripped up old carpet and replaced it with vinyl tile (by the way, vinyl sticky tile is my secret weapon to any old floor that needs a face lift for under a $1 a square).

 We don’t want to do these jobs because it just seems so much easier to not do them.  But, as with everything in life, if you want it done…you’ve got to Do It Yourself! 

Teaching your children to use tools at an early age will help by not only giving them skills for the future, but will help them in the “now.”  Aside from learning some new important skills, your child will also refine their hand-eye coordination and other motor skills, as well as boost their self-esteem.  Most grade-school aged children can understand the basic concepts of using tools.  With proper supervision, they can apply those skills effectively.

The best way to teach your kids how to use tools is to start slow on small items.  Concentrate on familiarizing them with one or two tools at a time, and slowly introduce them to basic tools.

Safety is always critical when teaching, practicing and apply the skills to projects.  The first tool you should teach your children to use is eye protection.  Be sure to always use eye protection when using any tools.  As the parent, it is up to you to set the example.  Monkey see, monkey do!  If you wear them, the kids will want to wear them too.

It takes practice to learn how to use tools properly.  When it’s “hammer time,” take some left-over wood and have your child practice driving in nails.  To hammer in a nail, hold the pointed tip against the wood.  Gently hit the nail a few times to start it and let go.  The nail should stand on its own.  Draw the hammer back a couple inches, being cognizant of where the other hand is placed, and slowly bring down the hammer to gauge where the nail is relative to your swing.  Then draw the hammer back and give it a tap.  The hardest part of hammering is hitting the nail precisely each time.  Once the nail is driven all the way into the wood, grab another nail and repeat.  Keep driving the nails in until your child appears comfortable with the hammer.  A child will have to most success with a lighter-weight hammer. 

The screw driver is one of the most used tools in your tools box.  A good exercise to teach for screw drivers is to grab a several different screws with different heads and different sizes.  Pre-drill a piece of wood with holes slightly smaller than the screws.  Let your child practice using the screw driver by driving the screws into the piece of wood. 

The tape measure is a tool of precision.  To teach your child how to use a tape measure, start off by showing them what the markings mean. Now, take a piece of wood tell them to measure and mark the board every 6 inches.  Then have your child hammer in a nail at each location.  We’ve just combined 3 skills: measuring, hammering and addition! 

Keep introducing them to new tools as you and your child feel comfortable.  Then start incorporating your kids into a tool-using routine.  Have them help you assemble a new piece of furniture or hang a picture they made at school.  They’ll be so proud of their skills, and you’ll be so glad you taught them early.

You can start introducing your kids to tools as soon as they can crawl.  Kid friendly toy manufacturers like “Fisher Price” have plastic tools meant for your little ones.  It usually comes with a cute workbench, and your tots can practice swinging a hammer before they even say their first word. 

Are there downsides to teaching your kids about tools early?  Only one…they may start to take everything apart!  But at least now, they’ll know how to put it all back together.  Enjoy teaching your children about the importance of knowing how to use tools.

Tools Build Self-Confidence

                There is nothing more gratifying then DIY projects.  In the end (if all went well) you are left with a finished project that is exactly what you wanted.  You did it yourself and you saved money.  Doesn’t that boost your self-esteem ladies?  I’m not talking about anything huge here.  It could have been something as simple as hanging some pictures or installing some shelves.  It’s nice to know how to do these things, and by building a relationship early with tools, you can achieve great things in your home! 

                Some of you may be mothers.  You know that building your child’s self-esteem early is essential for them to grow with good mental health and self-worth.  We’ll talk about teaching your children about tools in another blog, but let’s discuss how getting started early with tools is a great idea. 

                Being comfortable using a hammer when you’re younger means you’ll be more likely to use it to do tasks in your home later on.  Familiarity and knowledge about the simple tools most often used in the home as early as possibly means your children will take more interest towards using them.  If you’re not a parent and were not taught early to use tools, there’s really nothing to it.  They’re not scary or intimidating.  They bring you empowerment and control over your home, something most of us women may already know plenty about! 

                There are guides to help you sharpen your DIY skills; you can click here to find books written by women to assist fellow DIY Divas in home and car repair.  Ignore the stigma that tools are for men.  If you use a meat tenderizer while you prepare dinner, why on Earth can’t you use a hammer?  You can!  Ladiestoolsonline.com has a wide array of tools meant for you!  Now you can install your new faucet or light fixture with tools that are made for women.  Give it a try and tell me how much your DIY task boosted your self-esteem!

Security Checklist

            In these modern times of uncertainty, we can no longer rely on simple neighborhood watch programs or a family dog to protect our homes from intruders.  Now more than ever, we are applying state-of-the-art technology to ensure our home safety.  Motion-sensor lights and alarms are often part of a normal home.  In lieu of the technology that keeps us safe, we must remember some standard safety measures we need to apply daily to our lives.  Use the list below (consider printing it and posting it in your home) to make sure you’re doing what you can to keep you and your family safe at night.

·         Make sure all entrances to your home are locked.  If your doors have multiple locks, use them all.

·         Close any mechanical garage doors and entrances into your garage and lock them.

·         Close and lock all windows.  If you own a second story home and sleep with the windows open at night, you should be safe to do so, as long as there is no lattice or latter readily available for intruders to scale your home.

·         Draw all curtains or blinds.  If an intruder cannot see what is in your home, they are less likely to be interested in entering.

·         Make sure all your vehicles are secure.

·         If you have motion detectors or security lighting, make sure it is functioning properly.

·         Set any home security system you may have. 

Even the safest of homes can be the target of a break in.  Do all you can to make it difficult for criminals to gain entrance to your home.  If it’s time consuming and tricky to get in, the perpetrator knows that his time is better spent elsewhere. 

Now that you’ve made sure your home is safe from the outsiders, go through your house and make sure there aren’t any safety issues on the inside.

·         Check to make sure your stove is turned off.

·         Unplug anything that doesn’t need to be plugged in.  This could be a coffee maker or toaster.

·         Turn off all unnecessary lights to conserve energy.

·         Pick up any objects left on the floor that could cause a tripping hazard.

·         Make sure nightlights are working.

These simple checklists can help organize your nightly safety routines.  Post your routine where you can easily see it and remember to utilize it. 

Choosing Your Basic Tool Kit.

                When looking to create a toolbox for your home, deciding on which tools you need could be very difficult.  You don’t want buy a trunk load of tools and only use five of them.  At the same time you don’t want to start a project and not have the right tool for the job.  So how do you pick the tools you really need?

                Take a look at the typical projects you plan to do around your home.  These projects will be a good guide for you to build your tool box.  If you plan to hang frames and hooks, you’ll need a hammer to secure tacks and nails.  You’ll need a screw driver to secure screws and a tape measure for all your measuring needs.  A level will make sure your projects are straight and a pair of pliers will secure hooks and serve as a wire cutter.

                If you plan to assemble a lot of items, you’ll run into many types of fasteners. 

  Nails typically used to secure backer-board (you know, that cheap cardboard stuff) will require a hammer.  Screws with a single slot will require a flat-headed screw driver. Screws with a cross slot will require a Phillips head screw driver.  It is also common to see hex-head fasteners, which will require Allen wrenches.  It is important to use the correct size of screw driver or Allen wrench on your project because the wrong size may not fit, or will cause the fastener to become stripped, making it difficult or impossible to turn.   Your toolbox should have a variety of Allen wrench and screw drivers.  Rather than having several screw drivers in your toolbox, a handy tool is a multipurpose screw driver.  It has interchangeable heads.  This will not only save room, but can save you the time of digging for the right-sized head.

                After you have identified the tools that you need, it is important to keep them located in a toolbox.  Keeping a well-organized tool box will give you more time to work on your projects and less time searching for your tools.  Find a toolbox with more than one compartment for your items.  Separate compartments can help organize your fasteners and other little pieces you find along the way. 

                Some other pieces you’d want to include in your toolbox are scissors and a utility knife.  They can come in handy when you want to open boxes or cut patterns out of thick cardboard and even some wood. 

                Hopefully this gives you inspiration and sends you off to get yourself a useful tool collection to aid you in the home improvement and hobby projects you’ve been longing to begin.